Results 10,721-10,740 of 15,638 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The last time I was here, I took the brief as read but I think it would be helpful to go through it this time. The Department of Justice Vote group, which underpins an extensive ongoing investment to support work right across the justice sector, provides for gross expenditure of €3.637 billion across the six Votes in my Department and the justice sector, €3.363 billion of which...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Acting Chairman is right in what he said. We have the highest number there has been for a significant period. There are 4,717 people in prison compared to an approximate capacity of 4,514. This has led to us having to put bunk beds into certain cells. A small number of people are sleeping on mattresses and other areas have been refurbished that might not have been in use previously....

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: It probably is, in some way, a reflection of the challenges there. There is not a requirement for somebody to have that specific qualification, which is the case for probation officers. Having said that, a certain level of training is required and a particular skill set needed, so I have every confidence these people will be very supportive and helpful to the overall system. There is...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Jan 2024)

Helen McEntee: The national office for community safety will be the main office that will manage and support the community safety partnerships. The community safety partnerships will replace the JPCs and essentially expand out on the work they do. It will not just be members of An Garda Síochána, the local authority and local authority members or Oireachtas Members that are part of this group....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: It is about 34%.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under Zero Tolerance - Ireland's Third National Strategy on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, action 2.5.2 commits to a “complete examination of the potential application of an approach on the lines of Operation Encompass in an Irish context”. I can advise the Deputy that my Department has engaged with the Department of Education, the Department of Children, Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department communicates directly and regularly with all applicants to keep them informed on processing times and any updates on citizenship matters. The most recent general communication to all outstanding applicants was in November 2023, outlining processing times, eVetting updates and plans to provide access to additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that Mountjoy Prison Management, having carried out 2 inspections of the perimeter of the prison, have not located any mechanical noises being emitted from the Prison complex. Having being contacted about a mechanical noise, management carried out an inspection of the perimeter with the individual who contacted them and they were...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The staffing levels in the Citizenship Division of my Department are kept under constant review and additional staff have been assigned to the team, as required. The Citizenship division of my Department currently has 84 staff and 7 vacancies. Grade Number PO 1 AP 1 HEO 8 EO 19 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The General Scheme of the Sale of Alcohol intends to modernise our existing licensing laws in line with the expectations and needs of today’s society, and to encourage the development of a modern and diverse night-time economy. The proposed legislation endeavours to strike a balance between maintaining strict controls and safeguards in relation to the sale of alcohol, while providing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda staff, including interviews, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. As Minister I have no role in this matter. I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were 7,735 valid applications for the Garda Clerical Officer 2023 competition. I am informed that the first round of interviews took...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: At present, the provisions of the Parole Act 2019 apply to those serving a sentence of imprisonment for life. Section 24(3) of the Parole Act 2019 provides that the Minister may introduce regulations prescribing eligibility criteria for applications for parole for those serving long-term fixed sentences. To date, no such regulations have been made. The Review of Policy Options for Prison...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: It has not been possible to compile the information sought within the timeframe allowed. I will follow up directly with the Deputy as soon as the information is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Irish Prison Service must accept into custody all people committed to prison by the Courts and as such, the Irish Prison Service has no control over the numbers committed to custody at any given time. Where the number of people in custody exceeds the maximum capacity in any prison, my officials in the Irish Prison Service make every effort to deal with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 the Minister for Justice may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. A country may only be designated as a safe country of origin where satisfied that, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: Under section 15(1) of the International Protection Act 2015 a person must be in the State or at the frontiers of the State to make an application for international protection here. Information and an overview of the application process for international protection applicants can be found on the IPO website here: www.ipo.gov.ie/en/IPO/Pages/Assessment_of_Application.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however assured that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (13 Feb 2024)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters such as the opening and closing hours for each Garda station. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am informed that Maynooth Garda Station is open Monday and...